County Council sets date for vote on community college sponsorship

Thursday

Jun 8, 2017 at 7:12 PMJun 8, 2017 at 7:23 PM

The vote will take place at 9 a.m. on June 27.

Nico Salvatori @ETNSalvatori

Erie County Council wants to wait a little longer.

Council members on Thursday announced they will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. on June 27 for the sole purpose of voting on whether Erie County will be the local sponsor of a proposed community college.

Council had originally planned to vote on the matter at their regularly scheduled session Tuesday, but decided that the issue is important enough to warrant its own meeting.

"A project this important deserves its own meeting," said Erie County Council Chairman Jay Breneman in a statement issued Thursday evening. "The Community College will help educate the next generation workforce in Erie County. It is a point of optimism and hope, and I am pleased by the tremendous support for it across the County."

Being the local sponsor means the county would contribute an annual share of funds to keep the college open.

Breneman said council, Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper, and Empower Erie, the group that has commissioned studies and plans for the college, will utilize the extra time to gather feedback from county residents.

In addition, the two week extension will allow any groups interested in endorsing the community college plan to come forward and join several others that have already announced their support. Endorsements will help the county make its case when the plan is submitted to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.

"We're getting increasing support and we want to give those people, those organizations that want to show the support time," Erie County Councilwoman Kathy Fatica said.

Council is expected to pass the measure when it ultimately comes to a vote.

"We've got the votes," Fatica said. "It's not really a delay."

Council already has a heavy agenda on Tuesday, and a holding a separate meeting for the community college plan will help lighten the load, Fatica said.

Council will consider a salary increase for whoever is chosen to be the next director of the Blasco Library, as well as approve state funds for additional county positions.

The library is currently operating under an acting director in the wake of former library director Mary Rennie's retirement. Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper has asked council to approve a new salary for the position before she announces her pick for Rennie's replacement.

But council has been slow to approve the salary because it comes as council weighs implementing a new countywide pay scale, and some council members said they are reluctant to approve the salary outside of the new scale.

Council's finance committee at their regular meeting on Thursday engaged in a spirited debate with county officials pushing for the pay scale vote to be done sooner rather than later.

"This is a lot for us to digest," said Councilman Fiore Leone, who wants more time to review the proposed pay scale.

"I feel like I am being force-fed a lot of stuff for Tuesday night," Councilman Ed DiMattio said.

Nico Salvatori can be reached at 870-1714 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNsalvatori.

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